The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-11-24
Col. James Edward Calhoun.

Col. James Edward Calhoun,
Late yesterday evening messenger
came from Colonel James Edward CAL
houn's, stating that he was extremely i'll,
and that he had requested his kinsman,
Mr.. e. B. Calhoun and Mrs. Calhoun,
to 90 to see him. Mr.. E. B. Calhoun
was not at home at the time, but Mrs.
Calhoun went last night to his home on
Savannah River, some twenty miles dis.
tant
Although living in perhaps greater
aecusion than any other man h~l~5be-
vile County, yet, because of his wealth
and his eccentricities, his name has been
familiar 10 this generation from their
earliest recollection.
He was descendant from the earliest
settlers in this County, aud was remotely
connected with large number if not all
men in this country who bear the name
of Calhoun.
In his early manhood, perhaps in 1920,
he joined the United States Navy as
private, but afterwards received com.
mission. While in the navy he travelled
over mnch of the world, and his love Of
literature and his ambition prompted
him to study and become familiar with
the language of every people with whom
he was stationed. Colonel Calhoun was
distinguished for the excellence Of his
department, his soldiery bearing, his
abstemious habits, his retirement from
public affairs, his fine executive ability,
as we'll as for his power of accumulating
money. He was never lender of mon
ey nor speculator in property of any
kind When he once become the owner
of property he seldom parted with it,
and he was never prodigal with his
ready cash.
After he resigned his position in tie
navy be came home, and married
cousin Mariah Simkins,san aunt of Mrs.
NJ. c. Butler, who lived only short time
after their marriage. Since then he has
lived alone on his lands, miles away from
the settlement of any other white per-
son.
John G. Calhoun married his sister.
Only fow weeks ago he presented
library of curious and rare old books to
the Greenwood High School, some of
which were two hundred years old.
While the library in reality can be of
little more worth to the Greenwood
High School than specimens of curious
print, yet We doubt not that there are
places where these old books, like old
wine, would be more valuable for their
age.
Colonel Calhoun vas never professor
of religion. and was by many, considered
an unbeliever. His eccentricity in pro.
claiming his disregard for the religious
beliefs of Christian people was 10 doubt
a bar to his preierment in the political
world, and hence his sensitive nature
caused him to Withdraw from the world
in his earlier life to devote himself to
the work of building up great fortune,
while there are none nearer than single
granddaughter, Mr.. E. B. Calhoun, Of
this village, to inherit his vast estate.
BE was the largest tax paper in Abb
beville County, and the largest landown-
er in the up country. Besides owning
eleven thousand acres on the Savannah,
he owned an immense body of land in
Oconee and Pickens Counties. Trotters
shoals on the Savannah, it improved,
would afford more power than it is pos.
sible for an unlimited amount of capital
to utilize. The Georgia, Carolina and
Northern Railway runs across these
shoals and through his estate on both
sides of the river for distance of seven
miles.
The belief has existed for some time
that he had made will, but of this, we
have no definite information, but various
speculations have been made with refer.
ence to the disposition of this property
which may effect Abbeville County for
years to come. Some believe that he has
made will directing that his estate con.
sisting almost wholly of lands shall re.
main in tact, and that only his favored
friends and their children shall receive
the rents for generations yet unborn
AJ6eriNe Press and Banner, Nov. 16.